2004 Mazda MAZDA6 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
160 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
66,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 93 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 53 of 160 complaints (33.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 19 | 11.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 9.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 6.3% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 5.0% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 53 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Power Train | 10 |
| Structure:Body | 8 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 6 |
Air Bags: 53; Electrical System: 11; Power Train: 10; Structure:Body: 8; Engine: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 24 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 24; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 10
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (24). 67 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 26 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2004: 11; 2005: 10; 2006: 6; 2007: 9; 2008: 6; 2009: 8; 2010: 7; 2011: 12; 2012: 8; 2013: 8; 2014: 10; 2015: 26; 2016: 24; 2017: 8; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10087799 · 2004-08-12 (August 12, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES LOCK. THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERATIVE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SKID AND SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10087799 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089015 · 2004-09-02 (September 2, 2004)
VEHICLE DESIGN PROBLEM THAT COULD EASILY RESULT IN FATALITY. 2004 MAZDA 6S. THIS IS THE TRANSMISSION THAT CAN EITHER BE RUN AS FULL AUTOMATIC OR AS A SEMI MANUAL SHIFT. WHEN IN A PASSING SITUATION WITH THE THROTTLE FULLY OPEN, THE ENGINE JUMPS INTO ACTION AND THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS AS IT SHOULD. HOWEVER, IF THE GAS PEDAL IS KEPT PRESSED DOWN AS IN A PASSING SITUATION, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT UP SHIFT AT ANY POINT. THE RESULT IS THAT THE ENGINE RPMS WILL INCREASE TO THE POINT OF HITTING THE RED LINE. AT THAT POINT ANOTHER FEATURE S…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089015 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138967 · 2005-10-07 (October 7, 2005)
MY 2004 MAZDA 6 THAT I LOVED SO MUCH WHEN I PURCHASED IT EARLIER THIS YEAR, HAS BECOME A VEHICLE I HATE TO DRIVE. MY CAR HAS A SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM (AS BEST AS I CAN TELL). THE FIRST SYMPTOM IS A HORRIBLE WHINE WHILE IDLING OR ACCELERATING. WHILE DRIVING THE NOISE IS ACCOMPANIED BY TERRIBLE SHIFTING. MY RPMS OFTEN APPROACH 5 AND THE CAR JERKS TERRIBLY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION "CATCHES". I FEEL AS IF MY BODY IS TAKING A BEATING EVERY TIME I DRIVE. I HAVE HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME, THEY…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10179515 · 2007-01-23 (January 23, 2007)
I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS ON MY 2004 MAZDA 6S. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BULBS TWICE IN THE LAST 1.5 MONTHS, BY A DEALERSHIP. THEY ARE BURNING OUT, BUT NOT THE BRIGHTS. THE DEALERSHIP, CENTRAL MAZDA, IN PLAINFIELD, CT, HAD PUT THE VEHICLE THROUGH A SERIES OF ELECTRICAL TESTS THIS MORNING AND CAN'T SEEM TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ONLY CHARGED ME FOR THE FIRST REPLACEMENT, BUT I AM NOT SURE THIS WILL CONTINUE TO BE A FREE SERVICE. I HAVE NO OTHER COMPLAINTS AT ALL ABOUT THE CAR. I BOUGHT I…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10179515 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10198016 · 2007-08-01 (August 1, 2007)
I OWN A 2004 MAZDA 6 SPORTS SEDAN WHICH STILL HAS A FACTORY WARRANTY. MY WIFE & I ARE HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE CAR WHICH IS CAUSING A 15 AMP FUSE TO KEEP BLOWING. THIS FUSE CONTROLS THE HORN, BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, & CRUISE CONTROL. WE HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM 3 TIMES NOW & ALL THEY SEEM TO DO IS REPLACE THE FUSE WITH A NEW ONE & SEND US ON OUR WAY WITH NO EXPLANATION OF WHY IT IS BLOWING. THEY ADVISE ME THAT THEY HAVE TESTED ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS & CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. I HAVE A HUGE PRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,688 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198016 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080380 · 2004-07-05 (July 5, 2004)
I HAVE A 2004 MAZDA 6S I HAVE HAD TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE FUEL LINE HAS DETACHED FROM INSIDE THE ENGINE AND THE CAR HAS STALLED AND GASOLINE HAS POURED OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND I SHOULD RECEIVED IT IN THE MAIL , I LATER FOUND OUT THERE WAS NO RECALL . THEY THEN FIXED THE CAR SUPPOSELY AND THREE MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 4,256 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080380 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164470 · 2006-08-04 (August 4, 2006)
FRONT BRAKE DISCS SEVERE VIBRATION ON STEERING WHEN APPLYING BRAKES! *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 16,714 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164470 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10212282 · 2007-12-19 (December 19, 2007)
1)NOV. '04....12 HOURS AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, WERE CALLED BACK TO HAVE MAZDA REPLACE GAS TANK "DUE TO RECALL".MAZDA "MISPLACED" MY NEW GAS TANK. TOOK APPROX.4 DAYS TO GET MY BRAND NEW CAR BACK IN MY POSSESSION. 2)05/01/04: A.COMPLAINED OF MOANING SOUND FROM STEERING WHEEL/ENGINE. B) BREAKS SQUEAKING LOUDLY. MAZDA"PROBLEM NOT DUPLICATED" 3)8-19-05 A. CLUTCH SHUDDERS WHEN GOING FROM 0-1 & 1-2 GEAR (MANUAL TRANS.) B. MOANING SOUND FROM STEERING/ENGINE RIGHT FRONT AREA. MAZDA: "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE" 3) CAR MAKES MOANING SOUND FROM S…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212282 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10148338 · 2006-01-23 (January 23, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START. THE VEHICLE OFTEN STARTS IF THE KEY IS TURNED TO THE START POSITION AND HELD THERE FOR OVER A MINUTE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP; HOWEVER THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING. UPDATED 02/07/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148338 at NHTSA ↗